The National tribune., 1887-06-09

W tHOoC OppooAuS ~ ndS OOAo AAO SOOA
to hear from you, aud q relief to know you live
and prosper and that the great interest you
have shown in the soldiers of 1S6l-65 has been
productive of good May you and the cause go
on gaining till the Nations defenders all be-
come the Nations wards.
Fraternally yours, r. j. BoYINGToN,
Sergeant-Major, 105th Pa, and
First Lieutenant, Co. i, 105th Pa.
Capt. Butterfeld's letter is as follows:
ERIE, PA, May Il. 1887.
JAMES TANNER, ESQ.
DEAR SIR AND CoMRADE: Your letter Of
the nth inst reached me in due season.
have not the slightest doubt from your descrip-
tion of the circumstances and time, that you are
the man saw borne by me on a blanket with
both feet hanging by shreds, and which lifted
up and placed on the blanket, on the 30th day
OF August 1862, on the extreme right of our
line. on the battlefield of GrovetOn. was q
private in Co. B, 63d Pa. Our brigade, as far
as my memory now serves me, consisted of the
57th, 63d and 105th Pa, s7th N. ", and the
Goth Ind. (Which last regiment Joined us on the
Peninsulal. Gen. Robinson commanded.
On the afternoon of the 29th of August we
were ordered by Gen. kearny to attack the
right flank of Jaekson's line, in support Of
Hooker. We advanced, taking the railroad
embankment behind which the rebels were en-
sconced in the flank, and swung around upon
them with our right as pivot. Our advance
was met by a terrific fire, and although we
made several charges, being without support
and our line growing thin, we were unable to
hold the position and fell back under the cover
of the woods. We had sheen very roughly
handled. Capt. Hastings, of the 105th, and
Col. Brown, of the Goth Ind, were killed. and
Col. Alex. Hayes and Maj. Kirkwood, Of our
regiment, were both severely wounded and car
ried from the field. AL the field officers and
all of our Captains but one Ryan) we lost, and
he took command of the regiment
On the morning of the 30th we were moved
on to the higher ground farther to the extreme
right, to the position described by you The
house on the hill above US, and to our right as
we faced front, surrounded by peach trees,
recollect well. There was a sort Of shallow
ravine or dip about the center of the field in
which we lay, which ran at right angles to the
front. The bed of small, dry riyuet ran
through this. The rebels seemed to have dis
covered US early. 1 think it was from the men
on the hill picking peaches, the trees of which
were full and ripe. i remember there were
yells from our line of Get down; come down
out of that! to the fellows on the hill. 1t was
but few moments until battery of at least
four guns was pitching shells at and over US
in q lively manner. Just about this time If
you will recollect Gen. Mcdowell, wearing a
snow-white hat shaped something like an in
yerted butter-bowl rode by us with some men,
bers OF his staff and went to the house on the
hill TO view the situation. Some Of our men re-
member said that Mcdowell was traitor; that
the white hat was a signal to the enemy of his
whereabouts, and other foolish remarks. 1t is
singular fact, however, that while Mcdowell
was on the hill there was a cessation of the
fire, and Immediately after he rode away to-
ward the left they reopened with redoubled
yigor. The 105th, think, was the next regi-
ment to US, and it was Immediately after the
explosion of shell in the air rather close to
US that you were carried by Us in blanket. |
thought at first that you were 105th man, but
seeing your New York jacket" concluded you
belonged to Hobart Wards (Second) Brigade.
Your face was that of boy about Is, and as
our boys came up with expressions Of pity on
their faces, you remarked, if you recollect it.
"Never mind, boys" or something like that.
thought it very plucky at the time, and the
incident left vivid impression on my memory,
and although the day previous, and on many
battlefelds both before and after, witnessed
death and wounds in many forms, the cir
cumstances of this case / shall always dis
tinctly recall.
Our division was not engaged at all on the
Both, and your misfortune, think, was the
only casualty that happened to the brigade
certainly the only casualty Of the kind.
Our division fell back that night across Bull
Run-wading it-and retired to Centerville in
the rear of our retreatlng army. About a wear
and half ago / was in Brooklyn and met Mr..
Thorn, who, / think, was an old soldier. In
discussing matters and things in general he
spoke of you, and how you lost both of your
feet by the explosion of a shell On the 30th of
August, 1862 at second Ball Run, and that you
were in Kearny's Division. 1t Immediately
struck me as remarkable coincidence, and /
related to him the story above. At his sugges-
tion we went over to your office for the purpose
of comparing notes, but you were not in. /
was obliged TO leave for Philadelphia that even
ing, and after waiting some time came away
without seeing you. The charge made against
you of struggling" coffee cooler" ETC., can
have no weight whatever in view of the evil
dence that can be produced as to the loss of
your limbs. Such charges are generally made
these days by men who have had considerable
experience themselves in that line in the men,
orable days long gone by, and they are fire.
quently apt to act rs boomerang on the heads
that conceived them. If necessary can give
you addresses Of a number Of men of my regi-
ment who, think, are still alive, and who
doubt not were witnesses of all / saw, as the
regiment WAS very small and very compact
after our experience of the Goth of August. /
think my company had about Is men, and we
were all together.
i am member of Strong Vincent Post
No. 67, GAR; the Union Veteran Legion, En-
campment No. l, and the Old Third Corps
Union. j should be glad to hear from you at
any time, and to render you any service in my
power. i return the BOyington letter as re-
quested.
With regards to Mr.. Thorn, am fraternally
yours, b. f. BUTTERFIELD,
Late A. q. M. of Vols.